Jakarta, INTI - The Turkish Parliament has approved a bill banning children under 15 from using social media. The law requires digital platforms to implement age verification, provide parental controls, and address harmful content more quickly.
The bill was drafted after two fatal school shootings, which resulted in the arrest of 162 people for sharing footages of the incidents online. The law now awaits President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's approval within 15 days before it takes effect.
In addition to social media, online games will also be required to restrict access for minors. Failing to do so will result in penalties ranging from fines to bandwidth restrictions for violators.
Previously, the Turkish government had blocked several digital platforms. Instagram was blocked in 2024 for about a week. Roblox was banned after reports of sexually explicit content in the game. X, formerly Twitter, was also blocked by the Turkish government several times.
This policy reflects a global trend, with countries such as Greece, Austria, and Australia implementing or considering similar restrictions on children's use of social media.
Conclusion
The Turkish Parliament has approved a bill banning children under 15 from using social media, with mandatory age verification and parental controls. The law is still awaiting approval from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This policy comes after incidents of school violence and is part of a global trend of restricting children's access to social media.
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